Multifender made of ETPU

ETPU, also known under the brand name ^Infinergy® from BASF, is the world’s first expanded thermoplastic polyurethane. Pre-foamed particles are welded together in several steps using hot steam. The closed-cell, elastic particle foam combines the properties of thermoplastic polyurethane with the advantages of foams. It is characterized above all by its high abrasion resistance, very good resilience and high elasticity. ETPU can be used wherever a combination of low weight, excellent mechanical properties and high long-term resilience is required.

One of RUCH NOVAPLAST’s first projects with the new material was the production of multi-fenders. These are fitted to yachts at impact-sensitive points and are responsible for absorbing vertical and horizontal movements and the resulting forces. The side of the yacht is thus protected from damage that could occur, for example, when mooring at the jetty or when lying in a packet (yacht to yacht).

Other possible areas of application for ETPUs include mechanical engineering (e.g. as damping elements and buffers in compressors) or reusable load carriers in the logistics sector.